Balance Arm. A device and a method for training foot and leg muscles and for prevention of partial dystrophy of the left leg.

ABSTRACT

This is a unique device for training foot and leg muscles; it consists of a pedal attached to a pedestal. The front end of the pedal is connected to the balance arm by means of a metal rod; the balance arm is mounted to a stand. 
     The balance arm rule is used for the first time to achieve specific pressure on the muscles due to movement of weight on the lever arm. 
     Fixed load in the form of balance weights is used to adjust pressure. 
     The change in pressure is achieved due to movement of balance weights along one lever arm of the balance arm (for example, this could be the right side). 
     The movement of the balance weights on the threaded portion can be used to adjust the pressure on the foot.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

REFERENCES CITED (REFERENCED BY) U.S. Patent Documents

5,135,457 August 1992 Caruso 5,339,542 August 1994 Kim 5,453,065 September 1995 Lien 6,796,928 September 2004 Christopher and All

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

-   -   This invention refers to devices for training muscles         controlling feet and legs.     -   This invention is designed to prevent partial dystrophy of         muscles in the left leg that develops as a result of patient's         favoring right leg in the course of operating automotive         equipment such as personal, commercial and industrial motor         vehicles.     -   It differs from other inventions because, first of all, it uses         the balance arm rule to transfer pressure.     -   The device is fairly simple and two (minimum) balance weights         serve as main pressure elements.     -   There is no need to use balance weights of varying weight and         quantity.     -   The necessary pressure is achieved due to simple and smooth         movement of two (minimum) balance weights along the right level         arm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention described above is a device for training muscles controlling a foot and a leg of a user based on the balance arm rule; balance weights are used to apply pressure.

By moving of balance weights along the right threaded arm of the balance arm we can achieve varying degree of pressure on the muscles controlling feet and legs of the user.

The pressure from the foot gets transferred to the metal rod through the pedal and then to the right threaded arm of the balance arm, along which the balance weights move.

The balance arm is attached to a stand that makes it possible to carry out rocking motions.

The balance weights are securely attached to the arm of the balance arm and are controlled by stoppers that prevent slipping of weight during exercise.

The rubber padding softens the contact with the pedestal and decreases the noise when the balance arm is lowered to the low dead point.

The pedal is securely attached to the pedestal and ensures strictly vertical forward movements.

Rubber padding is installed under the pedal, ensuring strict noise free position of the pedal in the lower dead center.

The following are the objectives of this invention:

-   -   A new and useful training device;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         a metal pedestal of the device;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles with a         pedal;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         a pedal made from ribbed metal, equipped with foot stoppers on         both ends;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         a metal push-pull rod;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         a unique device for creating pressure, based on the balance arm         rule and consisting of varying pressure on one arm (for         example—the right arm) due to movement of weight along one of         the lever arms;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         a balance arm, threaded on one side, as a device for         transferring the pressure from the pedal to the balance weights;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         balance weights;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         a balance arm, threaded on one of the arms and allowing to         change the pressure by moving the balance weights along the         balance arm;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles with         rubber padding at the point where the balance arm contacts the         pedestal;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         a balance arm as a device to transfer pressure; the balance arm         rests on the stand by means of reliable and sufficiently         flexible attachment of the balance arm;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles using         the balance arm as a means to transfer effort on the balance         weights and accurate locking of upper and lower dead points;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles,         ensuring complete safety during exercise;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles,         ensuing complete safety during exercise due to a specialized         design of balance weights;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles         ensuring complete safety during exercise due to specialized         construction of stoppers, designed to limit movement of balance         weights along the threaded portion;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles,         ensuring complete safety during exercise due to expandable         additional stands;     -   A new and useful device for training foot and leg muscles,         ensuring prevention of dystrophy of this muscle group, that         might result from favoring the right and/or the left foot and         leg in the course of driving automobiles, and specialized         vehicles where only the right foot is used most of the time thus         leading to partial dystrophy of the left leg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Side view of the device.

FIG. 2 Top view of the device.

FIG. 2A Additional expandable stands.

FIG. 3 Balance weights.

FIG. 4 Balance arm.

FIG. 5 Balance arm stand.

FIG. 5A An additional version of attaching the balance arm and the stand.

FIG. 6 Pedal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Side View of the Device

This device for training muscles of foot and leg muscles consists of pedal 3 with a balance arm 5 located on stands 1. The pressure from the foot is transferred through the pedal 3 onto the push-pull rod 4 and then to the balance arm 5 with thread 8. A minimum of two balance weights 10 should be threaded. They can freely move along the threaded portion of the balance arm and can be tightened anywhere on the threaded portion 8 simply by being tightened against each other. Both ends of the threaded balance arm portion are equipped with balance weights stoppers 7 and 11 that prevent the balance weights from moving beyond specified limits. The low dead point of the pedal 3 is limited by a push-pull rod 4, and the right arm of the balance arm 8 is limited by rubber padding 12. This exactly limits the pedal and the balance arm range of motions.

The balance arm 5 rests on the support pillar 6 and is securely attached to the upper part with the help of bearings located on the ends of support overhangs of the balance arm that are inserted into housing 9.

The pedestal 1 rests on four rubberized pads 37 to insure floor stability. Additional horizontal stability of pedestal 1 is achieved by expandable stands 20 that are attached to the pedestal 1 with the help of specialized brackets 22 protruding on both sides of pedestal 1.

FIG. 2, FIG. 2A Top View of the Device. Additional Expandable Stands.

To achieve additional horizontal support and safety, the device is equipped with square 31 expandable stands 20. When not in use they fold up on both sides of pedestal 1. Due to specialized construction, the stands can be moved horizontal plane in relationship to bolt 28 within slots 23, with a minimum vertical gap. The slots 23 in the stands allow them to move within the limits necessary to connect them and/or to fold them on both sides of pedestal 1 for storage.

The operating conditions are achieved by moving them, connecting them into one and securing the ends with a bolt 26.

One of the ends of the stand 20 (FIG. 2A) is narrower 25 and the narrower part is inserted into the other part of stand 20.

The connecting ends of the stands are equipped with drilled holes 27 for bolt 26.

The ends of stand 20 are equipped with rubber pad 24 to ensure noise free and stable floor contact.

FIG. 3 Balance Weights.

Balance weights 10 are round threaded disks with drilled holes in the middle 29.

The inner diameter 29 is equal to the diameter of the threaded portion of the balance arm and is threaded likewise. The outside of the balance arm is ribbed 30 to ensure grip with hands during their movement along the balance ann.

FIG. 4 The Balance Arm.

The balance arm 5 has a slot 19 for a contact with pedal. This contact is hard and ensures maximum movement of pedal.

Two fingers 18 are used to attach the balance arm 5 to the stand 6. These fingers 18 ensure the balance arm 5 is safely and securely attached to the stand 6 using bearings 16 that are inserted into housings located in the stand. This helps the balance arm to achieve secure position and ensures free vertical movement of the balance arm 5. The balance weight stopper 7 gets screwed on the body of the balance arm. It limits maximum movement of the balance weights towards the stand.

A special nut 11 with slits for locking pins 39 gets screwed on the other end of the balance arm. After the nut is tightened, a locking pin is inserted into its opening 39 that runs through an opening in the balance arm body and prevents loosening of the nut.

FIG. 5, FIG. 5A Balance Arm Stand.

Additional version of attaching the balance arm to the stand.

The stand 6 consists of two support pillars with stands attached to the pedestal using straps 14 and bolts. At the top of the stand 6 there are two drilled holes 13 designed for bearings. The bearings are inserted into housing 13 in the stand 6. The balance arm fingers are inserted into these bearings and ensure mounting of the balance arm.

There is an additional version of attaching the balance arm 5 to the stand (FIG. 5A).

The balance arm 5 is a straight rod that is inserted into the device 42 to ensure its tightening on the stand. This device is a cube 42 with two fingers 18 with bearings 16 attached to both sides. The balance arm 5 gets inserted into housing 17 and is tightened with bolt 15.

FIG. 6 Pedal.

Pedal 3 is a metal ribbed plate 41. At the top and the bottom of pedal 3 there are stoppers 36 to limit movement of the foot on pedal 3. They limit movement of the foot on the pedal during exercise.

Pedal 3 is attached to pedestal 1. At the bottom pedal 3 has two fingers 2 for attachment to pedestal 1.

Rubber pad 40 is a locking pin of the lower dead point of pedal 3, and is attached to pedestal 1 with bolts.

Slot 38 at the end of pedal 3 serves to connect the pedal and balance arm using pull-rod.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, without departing from those principles there may occur to those skilled in the art modifications of structure, arrangement proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements. The appended claims are intended to cover and embrace any all such modifications within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

What we claim is:
 1. A device for training foot and leg muscles which includes a combination of the following: a pedestal; a pedal, attached to the pedestal; balance arm support pillars (stand); a metal pull-rod, connecting the pedal and the balance arm; the balance arm transferring the pressure from the balance weights to the foot; threaded portion (for example, the right side) of the balance arm; limiting stoppers of the balance weights for use on the threaded portion; balance weights; a stopper of the lower dead point of the balance arm; expandable stands.
 2. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a metal pedestal.
 3. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes rubber pads for the pedestal, ensuring floor stability of the pedestal.
 4. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes additional stands for horizontal stability of the device.
 5. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a pedal for transferring pressure onto leg and foot muscles.
 6. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a safety bracket—equipped pedal to prevent a foot from slipping off.
 7. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a pedal made from any acceptable material ensuring good friction with the foot.
 8. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a rubber pad, ensuring stability of the balance arm in the low dead point.
 9. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a metal pull-rod connecting the pedal and the balance arm.
 10. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a balance arm for transferring pressure from the pedal to the balance weights.
 11. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a balance arm, threaded on one side (for example, the right side) to ensure tightening and smooth movement of balance weights.
 12. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a balance arm, threaded on the right side, equipped with balance weights stoppers.
 13. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a balance arm stand.
 14. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a rubberized pad for soft and noise free contact between the balance arm and the pedestal.
 15. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes specially designed balance weights, threaded to ensure their tightening on the right arm of the balance arm and their smooth movement and fixed position on any threaded portion.
 16. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which can be disassembled for transporting and storage.
 17. The device for training foot and leg muscles of claim 1 which includes a method of training foot and leg muscles. The purpose is to prevent partial dystrophy that might develop due to unequal pressure on feet in the course of operating personal and industrial automobiles. Most automobiles are designed for the right foot only. The movement of balance weights along the right arm of the balance arm can be used to adjust the necessary pressure on the left foot, but not necessarily left, and achieve necessary pressure on all muscle groups related to foot control. 